CFSMS -Chapter 99 Child, Call Me Uncle

As the first customer that night to try the pickled chili broth, he instantly became the center of attention.

Pickled chili chicken feet were a common and beloved dish, so everyone was already familiar with the flavor profile of pickled chilies.

But among Lu Wu’s customers, there was a saying:

Comparing ordinary food to Boss Lu’s cooking was an insult to Boss Lu.

The customer picked up a skewer of white radish.

Radish slices were naturally juicy to begin with. After being cooked in the broth, they became even plumper. A light coating of dipping sauce clung to the surface, and the rich sour-spicy aroma was incredibly appetizing.

He took a gentle bite.

In an instant, a distinct sour-and-spicy flavor struck his taste buds. The specially fermented pickled chilies delivered a pronounced tanginess alongside a satisfying heat.

The two flavors blended perfectly.

The spiciness lingered pleasantly in the mouth, stimulating the appetite while elevating the overall dining experience.

“Sour and spicy. Delicious.”

With his mouth stuffed full of skewers, the customer still managed to raise a thumbs-up toward Lu Wu.

He blew on the hot food while fielding questions from the other diners.

As the broth continued to boil, rising steam softened Lu Wu’s features. She handed out another serving, this time from the mushroom broth.

She had used a wide variety of mushrooms in this stock.

Matsutake, morels, porcini, and many others bobbed up and down in the simmering pot. In some ways, it resembled her previous clear broth.

The focus was freshness.

The difference was that the clear broth emphasized the savory freshness of meat, while the mushroom broth highlighted the pure, natural umami of wild fungi.

A little salt was all the seasoning it needed. Strong spices would only ruin that natural flavor.

After simmering for a long time, the mushrooms’ essence had completely infused the broth, making it exceptionally smooth and rich.

Thin slices of bamboo shoot were lifted from the pot and handed to a customer.

Lu Wu only used the tender tips of the shoots, so they contained almost no fibrous texture.

The pale yellow slices carried a fresh bamboo fragrance. They were mildly sweet, crisp, refreshing, and burst with juice when bitten into.

“Slurp!”

The customer sucked the broth from the corner of his mouth and quietly focused on eating.

Judging from everyone’s reactions, the three broths introduced that evening were a complete success.

Zeng Si had also come that night.

Holding his hand was a little boy—his son, Zeng Sheng.

For Zeng Sheng, crowded places like this were not somewhere he liked to be.

Unfortunately, his father had lured him here with the promise of delicious skewers.

Although his mind was mature and he refused to stoop to his childish father’s level, good food was a fundamental human desire. There was no reason to resist it.

Just as he had expected, the scene was noisy.

Every time someone accidentally brushed against him, his delicate brows furrowed tightly.

He hid behind Zeng Si, trying his best to avoid contact, completely unaware that many people found this behavior adorable.

Naturally, some strange uncles couldn’t resist teasing him.

“Want some, little guy? Call me ‘Uncle,’ and this serving of skewers is yours.”

Borrowing someone else’s appearance, Cang Heguang was acting completely without restraint.

He waved the skewer in front of Zeng Sheng, his eyes filled with affection.

This kid has an extraordinary physique.

What should I do? I really want to kidnap him and make him my disciple.

“This uncle, my mother said I shouldn’t accept food from strangers.”

Zeng Sheng forced himself to look away from the skewers after staring at them for quite some time.

Though judging from his tone, his words were far from sincere.

Smells so good… I want to eat it.

His mother’s cooking was terrible.

Unfortunately, she loved cooking.

Every meal, his father would force him to help finish the food.

After years of suffering under her culinary assaults, Zeng Sheng had finally discovered a whole new world the night before.

For the first time, he realized that outside his mother’s kitchen, the world wasn’t full of storms and suffering.

Having already tasted food fit for immortals, his mouth was now producing saliva at an alarming rate.

Still, he felt there was something strange about this uncle.

Suspiciously strange.

Kind of creepy.

I’m just a child. Scary.

“Fellow Daoist, it’s almost our turn. Take your time eating.”

Zeng Si immediately pulled Zeng Sheng protectively into his arms.

He was convinced that this burly man had bad intentions.

The rugged Zeng Si flexed his muscles and raised an arm, silently warning the other party not to get any ideas.

Seeing the father and son treat him like some terrifying monster, Cang Heguang felt as though ten thousand arrows had pierced his heart.

It shattered.

Do I really look that much like a bad guy?

He withdrew the skewer and angrily tore into the meat, retreating to a corner where he comforted his wounded heart with delicious food.

This was Lu Wu’s fourth day selling skewers here.

Those who needed to know already knew.

Those who intended to come had already arrived.

The street was packed with customers, and the crowd never stopped flowing.

As Lu Wu’s very first customer, Steward Zhu could barely find a place to stand.

Tonight, he had chosen the tomato broth.

Under Lu Wu’s careful preparation, the natural sweetness and acidity of the tomatoes had reached a perfect balance.

Even though all his skewers were meat, the flavor remained light and refreshing, carrying a pleasant fruity aroma.

He loved it.

However, Tian Shou had just sent him a message saying that their collection of “Desire” had been completed ahead of schedule.

Based on past experience, it was time to withdraw.

The problem was that there were too many customers gathered outside the casino.

They couldn’t leave.

After squeezing his way through the crowd, Steward Zhu finally returned to the casino.

In his hands was a bowl of skewers he had brought back for Tian Shou.

“Thanks.”

Tian Shou accepted them casually.

“Have all the messages been sent out?”

he asked before taking a bite of a skewer. A look of deep satisfaction appeared on his face.

Licking his fingers, he spoke excitedly.

“Yes. After Boss Lu closes up tonight, they’ll act according to the plan and help draw attention away. Once that happens, we’ll begin the evacuation.”

Watching Tian Shou eat so happily, Steward Zhu’s fingers twitched.

He wanted to snatch the food away.

The headquarters was urging them to return with the item and report in. He had become too fixated earlier.

Nobody had said they couldn’t come back and continue eating after reporting in.

Boss Lu would still be selling here for several more days.

There was plenty of time.

By then, the people of Hong’an City would probably have stopped paying attention to this place, and he could conveniently carry out his recruitment scheme as well.

“Fine. We’ll do it your way.”

Tian Shou disliked thinking.

He only liked violence.

His eating speed was astonishing, and the skewers quickly disappeared.

Only the lingering aroma that clung to his body remained.

Somewhat regretfully, he sighed.

“Why is it already gone?”

Steward Zhu ignored him and instead observed the situation inside the casino.

Without realizing it, the gamblers had gradually changed over the past few days.

Many unfamiliar faces had appeared.

Among them were the two unfortunate souls, Mu Mu and Tian Tian.

By now, they had already gambled away a third of their wealth and were completely hooked.

Their pretty faces were framed by bloodshot eyes.

Steward Zhu’s expression remained indifferent.

Tonight would be the final round of squeezing everything possible from them.

“Increase the intensity.”

He gave the order calmly.

Tian Shou merely lowered his head and inhaled the lingering fragrance on his palms before nodding.

He snapped his fingers.

At once, countless gamblers throughout the casino shuddered.

The intoxicated expressions on their faces deepened.

Streams of black mist were extracted from their bodies one after another.

The process went smoothly.

Satisfied, Steward Zhu led Tian Shou away to arrange the rest of the plan.

Yet the moment the two of them entered the room, every gambler in the casino turned to look in that direction simultaneously.

Their eyes were sinister.

Their mouths twisted into eerie smiles.

The sight was profoundly unsettling.